Soemarjono denies part in fake money business

Soemarjono denies part in fake money business

SURABAYA (JP): The main suspect in the counterfeit money case,
Soemarjono, denied on Wednesday all accusations against him,
saying that he knew nothing about the scandal and that police had
no supporting evidence.

Speaking to reporters before being escorted to a cell, the
retired Army colonel, repeatedly denied any role in producing and
circulating counterfeit money. "There is no single evidence until
this very moment. I have no idea of the accusations against me."

After being questioned from Tuesday evening to 3:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Soemarjono, accompanied by three attorneys, returned
to the police station for further interrogation at 11 a.m. on
Wednesday.

Chief of Surabaya Police detectives, Maj. Edwin BM, said that
Soemarjono was confronted with 13 other suspects. "He claimed to
know only two of the suspects in other businesses, not in
counterfeiting," Edwin said.

However, the other 13 suspects said they knew Soemarjono.

"They have the right to claim to know me," Soemarjono told
reporters.

Soemarjono, the manager of the Indonesian Thomas Cup winning
team, was officially detained at the Surabaya City Police as of
Wednesday evening. During Wednesday questioning he was
accompanied by three attorneys, who signed the letter of warrant
No. SPP:237/V/SERSE/2000 dated May 24, 2000.

Soemarjono, who looked fresh after the hard questioning, said
he accepted the order to detain him, but one of his lawyers,
Nelson Darwis, said he would request a delay.

Shock

The arrest of Soemarjono cut short Indonesian badminton team's
victory celebration.

Men's doubles specialist Candra Wijaya told The Jakarta Post
Wednesday in a telephone interview that he still believed that
Soemarjono was a generous person.

"I have known him since 1994 and all I know is that he is a
very nice and generous person. The players made a special request
to the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) chairman Subagyo
Hadisiswoyo to appoint Pak Soemarjono as team manager," said the
world number one doubles partner of Tony Gunawan.

"I was very shocked to learn what happened at the airport.
This can't be happening to him. Whatever happens, I only know
that he is a good man," Candra, another men's doubles specialist
said, recalling Soemarjono's arrest at the airport upon his
arrival from Kuala Lumpur.

World number three men's singles Hendrawan said: "I was not
very close to him since I was recognized as a star during Pak
Subagyo's era. But during the Thomas Cup, I learned that all
players were close to him."

Hendrawan, two-time hero for Indonesia's Thomas Cup team in
1998 and 2000, was stunned when he saw several officers
approaching Soemarjono to arrest him.

"Too bad, it happened just after we won the Thomas Cup. Our
victory is meaningless. Our happiness is not as great as when we
just retained the trophy."

Indonesia's third singles Marlev Mainaky said that Soemarjono
had very good relationships with the players.

Marlev learned of the news Monday morning from his wife Helen
when he called her from Kuala Lumpur. "I was shocked. I hope it
is not true."

PBSI training director Christian Hadinata declined to comment
on the arrest.

"I can only say that he is a good man since he served as the
executive director in the previous term. Soemarjono successfully
conducted his job as the team manager by bringing home the Thomas
Cup. There's no more I can say."

Training director for the 2000 Olympic Games Arie Sudewo urged
athletes not to be affected by Soemarjono's scandal.

He told the athletes, especially those who are being groomed
for the quadrennial event in Sydney, to learn from the success of
the national shuttlers in retaining the Thomas Cup.

"I hope that the scandal will not discourage the people of the
Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI). But we will promote
the success story of the Thomas Cup team to boost the morale of
other athletes," said Arie, who is also the deputy chairman of
the National Sports Council (KONI). (nur/yan/ivy/sur)